Chables edwabd little



o. E. LITTLE.

PBNGIL CASE.

PatentedDeo. 8, 1885.

(No Model.)

UNITED STATES PATENT OEETCE.

CHARLES EDWARD LITTLE, OF LONDON, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR TO S. MORDAN Si COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

PENCI L-CASE.

SFEECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 331,896, dated December 8, 1885.

Application tiled June 4, 1885. Serial No. 167,602; (No model.) Patented in England February 17, 1885, No. 2,204, and in Germany February 26, 1885, No. 32,7254.

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that l, CHARLES EDWARD Lir- TLE, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain and Ireland, residing at London, England, silversmith, have invented new and useful Improvements in Pencil-Cases, of which the following is a specification.

Heretofore it has been general to construct pencil-cases in such a manner that when a lead is expended or used up it becomes necessary to refill the case with a lead taken either from an independent boX,or to unscrew the bottom of the pencil-case to withdraw a lead from the receptacle containing the same, and then to unscrew the point or nozzle in order to introduce such lead. This has necessitated time and trouble and handling of the leads, which, being brittle and slender, were liable to break in illing.

Now, the object of my invention is to avoid these evils, and to construct pencilcases in such a manner (as hereinafter fully described) that the leads are contained in a magazine or holder provided around the upper part of the pencil-case and forming part thereof, and are fed continuously to the point or nozzle of the instrument by simply turning the hinder or lower part of the said pencil-case, and without having to remove the point or nozzle.

My invention will be readily understood on reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is an elevation of a pencil-case constructed according to my invention, and shown full size. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of the pencilcase complete in alll its parts. Fig. 3 is a cross-section, on line w of Fig. 2, of the magazine or holder. Fig. 4 is a separate view of the propelling mechanism and feeding-tube. Fig. 5 is a section on line y y of the semicircular feeder, the arrow showing the direction of motion. Fig. 6 is a detached view of the feeding and propelling tube.

The figures from 2 to 6, both inclusive, are shown on an enlarged scale for sake of clearness.

In carrying out my invention I combine with the ordinary spiral action Z, (or with any like suitable movement,) which needs no detailed description, but which is used for propelling and projecting the lead beyond the point or nozzle, a tube, @,Which surrounds and is concentric with a central tube, Z2, through and along which travels the ejector or pin c, employed for projecting outward the lead. This tube a forms the magazine or holder for the leads Z, which lie in the space existing between said tubes a and b. These leads are placed in the interior of the penoil case,and lie around the central tube,b, as seen in crosssection, Fig. 3. They are retained in position by resting on the annular block or ring A, and against the interior wall of the tube a.

' The central tube, b, is of special construction. It is furnished with aslot or opening, d, slightly exceeding the length of the leads, and this slot is provided withasuitably-shaped lip or strip of metal, e, which forms and acts as a scoop; or the tube maybe provided with arms or pins answering the same purpose. This scoop (or these arms) on the tube b, being revolved to the left when the ejector c is completely Withdrawn into the spiral action, takes or scoops up one lead in its revolution and deposits it into the slot or opening d, through which it falls into the tube and onto the top end of the ejector, where it is then ready for being projected outward on the ejector being operated by turning or revolving the hinder part of the pencil-case to the right. The upper part of the central tube is screw-threaded, and receives the nozzle or point of the pencil, as seen in Fig. 2. The tube or magazine a is held in place by friotional contact with the tube or block g, which is secured to the tube b, and around this tube the ring p is soldered. The purpose of this ring p is to prevent the magazine or holder being drawn off backward. The lower or hinder portion of the pencilcase is secured to the action in the usual manner. An indieating-mark, f, which may be an arrow, as shown in Fig. l, is engraved or stamped on the nozzle, so that in actuating the pencil it may be at onceknown that after the complete rotation of the nozzle to the left a fresh lead has been scooped up and has fallen into the slot or opening in the central tube.

The method of working is as follows: The magazine being filled with leads, and the 5 ejector assumed to be at its lowermost point, I revolve thehinder part of the pencilcase to the left, thereby causing the central tube, with its scoop or equivalent, to revolve, or partially revolve, as may be necessary, at the same time and to the same extent, and to take or scoop up a lead in its revolution and to feed the same to the interior of the centra-l tube. I then revolve the hinder part of the pencilcase to the right, thereby bringing the ejector into action, whose office it is to project the lead into and slightly beyond the nozzle, for use in the ordinary manner. Vhen the lead is expended, the ejector is withdrawn completely into the spiral action by winding it downward to the left, and by continuing this winding the central tube is revolved, or partially revolved, and in its movement the scoop takes up another lead and deposits it into the interior of said central tube. The winding action isthen reversed, and the ejector, coming into action again, projects the lead outward, as above mentioned. These- Winding movements are renewed as often as required, until the leads in the magazine are 3o used up, when the nozzle or point is unscrewed and the magazine refilled with a fresh Icharge of leads.

This invention was patented in Great Britain February 17, 1885, No. 2, 204,andin the German Empire February 26, 1885, No. 32,734.

Having now described myinventiomwhat I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s-

1. The combination, with the spiral action and the ejector receiving motion from the same, of a tube through which the ejector passes, having a slot and scoop at one side, a magazine or holder surrounding the slotted tube, for containing leads, and a pencil case and point, substantially as specified. Y

2. In combination with the propelling-action of a pencil-case, a magazine or holder, and a slotted lead-tube provided with a scoop or equivalent device, the whole arranged as herein described and shown, and operating as set forth.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES EDVARD LITTLE.

Witnesses:

CHARLns JAMES KEMP,

68 Fleet Street, London. ARTHUR RICHARD SKERTEN,

17 Gracecrwch Street, London, E. 0. 

